I launch from a bank on a shallow bayou. At higher tides, there is not much of an issue. At lower tides it can be difficult with the AI bottoming out and getting stuck in the muck during launch (too steep of an angle). Also some kind of ramp or platform would help with retrieval at lower tides. Has anyone already tackled this for launching off a bank or low seawall?Thanks is advance!

There are quite a few places where i have to launch from rip rap. Without the AI all configured (hull only), i alternate walking first stern then the bow down parallel to the shore. The steepest one is about three drops on the stern until i have the bow close enough to the water to slide it in. I use a short piece of poly rope with a knot in the end to keep the stern from sliding (jam the knot between the rip rap).Then i put together the boat once it is on the water.its a pain, especially finding places to keep the stern and bow from sliding, but works.

What about using some parallel PVC pipe, say 1.5 inch diameter? Drill some holes in them and thread a rope through a smaller diameter pipe, then through the two larger ones (think of a ladder). The rope prevents them from sliding away from each other and the smaller pipe keeps them from collapsing. The nice thing about PVC is that the kayak will slide very easily.

What about using some parallel PVC pipe, say 1.5 inch diameter? Drill some holes in them and thread a rope through a smaller diameter pipe, then through the two larger ones (think of a ladder). The rope prevents them from sliding away from each other and the smaller pipe keeps them from collapsing. The nice thing about PVC is that the kayak will slide very easily.

Jeff

Ha ! That is exactly what I did for the 2-3 times a year I'm up at my In-Laws. They're on a very rocky waterfront.

Think of the whole contraption as a PVC Ladder ... crossbars are the steps. on the steps, I put pool noodles over them so they either roll on the PVC or the yak slides easier. I also used some of my older climbing gear rock stoppers to secure the ladder to the rocks. When I'm all done, the whole thing folds away nicely into their shed for the next time I'm up.

This year, I plan on hauling up some nice 4" PVC pipes (as long as possible) and making a dedicated launch with them

What about using some parallel PVC pipe, say 1.5 inch diameter? Drill some holes in them and thread a rope through a smaller diameter pipe, then through the two larger ones (think of a ladder). The rope prevents them from sliding away from each other and the smaller pipe keeps them from collapsing. The nice thing about PVC is that the kayak will slide very easily.

Jeff

Ha ! That is exactly what I did for the 2-3 times a year I'm up at my In-Laws. They're on a very rocky waterfront.

Think of the whole contraption as a PVC Ladder ... crossbars are the steps. on the steps, I put pool noodles over them so they either roll on the PVC or the yak slides easier. I also used some of my older climbing gear rock stoppers to secure the ladder to the rocks. When I'm all done, the whole thing folds away nicely into their shed for the next time I'm up.

This year, I plan on hauling up some nice 4" PVC pipes (as long as possible) and making a dedicated launch with them

What is the width of your ladder? I am thinking about just a little wider than the beam on the center kayak hull as opposed to the full width of the folded AI?